Carrier Comparison
LINEMO vs ahamo: Japan's Two 2,970-Yen Heavyweights
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If you only read this part
Both give you 30GB, 5-minute free calls, 2,970 yen a month. On paper they are twins. The split happens on three axes: rural coverage (ahamo's docomo network), international roaming (included in ahamo's 30GB), and the cheap tier (LINEMO has a 990-yen 3GB plan; ahamo has nothing below 30GB).
Rural life or foreign travel points to ahamo. City life with variable usage and heavy LINE habits points to LINEMO.
Section 01
Same Numbers, Different Details
| Item | LINEMO | ahamo |
|---|---|---|
| Network | SoftBank | docomo |
| 30GB plan | 2,970 yen (Best Plan V) | 2,970 yen |
| Small plan | 990 yen (up to 3GB) | None |
| 5-min free calls | Included (V) | Included |
| Intl roaming | Paid option | Free within 30GB |
| Payment | Card, bank transfer | Card, bank transfer |
| Signature perk | LINE Giga Free, PayPay ties | Omori option (+80GB, total 110GB) |
Find the row that touches your actual life and the decision mostly makes itself. Below, the three rows that matter.
Section 02
Rural Japan: ahamo
The docomo network is a clear step ahead in the mountains and the countryside. City residents will feel no difference, but rural work, frequent domestic travel, or a hiking and ski habit are all reasons to lean ahamo.
Section 03
Travel Abroad: ahamo
ahamo includes roaming in 91 countries and regions inside your 30GB, up to 15 consecutive days per trip. Fly abroad even once a year and the whole ritual of buying local SIMs and travel eSIMs disappears. LINEMO sells overseas use as a paid option; this axis belongs to ahamo, clearly.
Section 04
City + Budget: LINEMO
LINEMO's edge is downward flexibility. The Best Plan bills 990 yen if you stay under 3GB: a work-from-home month or a long trip out of Japan makes your bill shrink by itself, a structure ahamo simply lacks. LINE Giga Free, which exempts LINE chats and video calls from your data count, is a real capacity bonus for anyone whose social life runs on LINE.
For the latest plan and campaign details, see the official LINEMO site.
The Verdict
Which One Should You Pick?
Pick ahamo if
Rural + travel
You live outside the metro areas, travel domestically for work, or leave Japan at least once a year. The docomo network and bundled roaming earn their keep in that life.
Pick LINEMO if
City + flexibility
You live in a city, your usage varies month to month, and LINE is your social infrastructure. The more 990-yen months you hit, the wider the annual gap grows.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is there a call quality difference?
Both run on full carrier networks, so perceptible call quality differences are essentially zero.
Which is easier to switch to?
About the same. Both support one-stop MNP and the whole process happens online.
Can I sign up in English?
Both signup flows are in Japanese. A translation app gets you through either, but LINEMO's flow is the more forgiving of the two. Our LINEMO review walks through it.